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Spain says virus ship can dock in Canary Islands

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Halida Abbaro
May 7, 2026

The cruise ship hit by a rare hantavirus outbreak will set sail for the Canary Islands. The journey from the Cape Verde Islands will take three to four days. Spain has granted permission for the ship to dock in Tenerife.

A cruise ship carrying international passengers remains stranded off Cape Verde after a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected several others. The rare disease, spread by rodents, has no cure. Disputes over where passengers can safely disembark continue, with Spain offering the Canary Islands despite local concerns. The WHO says Cape Verde lacks capacity, as authorities work to prevent further infections and investigate how the virus spread onboard.

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